No one wants their house to sit on the market for a long time. A stagnant listed property raises suspicion from potential buyers and can drive down the price on future offers. If you’re going through financial difficulties, moving for work, have a new baby on the way, or are going through a separation, you might feel especially eager to sell your home as soon as possible. Trying to sell your home quickly presents a special challenge, even in a seller’s market. But use intentional home-selling techniques like decluttering, cleaning, staging, marketing, and pricing, and you can make your home more appealing and inspire a fast sale.
When your home is cluttered and full of items or unnecessary pieces, your rooms can look small and cramped. Clearing the space can make it look more open, set an elegant tone, and help prospective buyers envision their own items there.
Now that you’re rid of the excess pieces that added clutter to your space, the cleanliness and visual energy will be more evident to potential homebuyers.
If you’re looking to sell quickly you likely won’t have time to do any major renovations to raise your property value. But invest in smaller repairs to improve the aesthetic and functionality of your home to make it easier for a buyer to imagine themselves moving in. Here are some easier repairs that go a long way in making a quick sale:
When you’re selling your property, focus on what makes it special and think about what might be appealing to potential buyers. Perhaps a young couple will be excited by the antique features, or a detail-oriented buyer will appreciate the beautiful tiling in the bathroom.
Improve the curb appeal of your home by planting flowers or foliage in front of the house, or trim the bushes to highlight a stunning view. If there’s something that sets your home apart, it’s worth making the most of it.
When you’re selling your property, focus on what makes it special and think about what might be appealing to potential buyers.
You likely have an emotional connection to your home, even if you’re ready to let it go. Use a great real estate agent to help establish a competitive price point that works for you and is aligned with comparable sales in your market. This involves considering the way potential buyers are searching. If you price your home at a few thousand dollars below a popular search amount you might engage more bids than if you ask for an amount that pushes it above a commonly searched number.
For example, listing your home at $670,000 instead of $710,000 to include queries for homes under $700,000. A real estate professional should be well acquainted with your local market and how housing trends are affecting demand. They’ll help you price for a quick sale while maximizing what you can get. Pricing just below a threshold can also be effective; think of the way that toothpaste might cost $4.99 instead of $5.00. A lower tier is psychologically more appealing to potential buyers.
Home pricing tip: If you’re looking for a quick sale, you could also consider selling to an investor who plans to flip the home and resell it at a higher value.
You might have an incredible collection of antique dolls or a pet that makes your house feel like a home, but it’s important to allow potential buyers to envision themselves living in the space. If you can, take your pets elsewhere, because they might distract from the viewings. Also, personal items or strong decor choices like bright colours or furniture that’s specific to another era could make it harder to sell if they clash with the personal taste or vision of the buyer. For example, a vegan homebuyer might be turned off by the deer head you’ve proudly displayed on the mantle. By creating a more neutral space, you’ll appeal to a wide demographic of potential buyers. 0
Home staging tip: If you’re trying to sell your home quickly, prioritize features that would appeal to almost everyone; think fresh-cut flowers, the smell of cookies, or open curtains that allow a small room to be bathed with light.
The first impression of your house is often made before a buyer steps inside and might be a quick drive-by. Make sure the exterior of your home looks clean and well taken care of. If you can afford it, investing in some simple landscaping can drive up the value of your home and help with a faster sale. Repaint the front door, stabilize guardrails, sweep or shovel front steps, and leave a warm light on at night in case potential buyers drive by. Buy a new doormat and ensure the front porch is appealing with clean furniture, a pile of freshly chopped wood, or thriving plants.
There are some cases in which a FSBO sale might be right for you, but there are also risks involved and you could lose money and time on all that extra paperwork. If you have a friend or relative who’s looking to buy, you might be thinking about a direct sale or cash offer that doesn’t involve an agent. Here’s what you should consider before you decide to sell your home yourself:
Your agent can help you shape incentives that encourage buyers to move forward. Financial and practical incentives could include covering closing costs or needed renovations, agreeing to inspections, flexible schedules for move-in or move-out, including certain appliances and warranties, or making small repairs that you know matter to the buyer. The more transparent you are with your real estate agent, the more they can help you communicate with potential buyers to make a sale seamless and smooth.
Houseful provides personalized guidance for your real estate journey. Work with local real estate agents and gain access to financial insights and advice from Royal Bank of Canada mortgage advisors.
This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.
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